LIBYA, AN AGREEMENT FOR THE PACIFICATION OF SEBHA CITY SIGNED AT SANT’EGIDIO BETWEEN THE SOUTHERN TRIBES

From October 3 to 5, the representatives of Awlad Suleiman and Tebu tribes, who come from the city of Sebha (the capital of Fezzan, which is the largest region of southern Libya), met in Rome at the Community of Sant'Egidio. After a long and in-depth discussion, the two delegations signed a joint declaration in which they asserted their willingness to re-establish mutual trust and to work together for peaceful coexistence in Sebha, which is a strategic city for the whole country. Specifically, since the beginning of the Libyan crisis, Sebha has been affected by clashes between the different components of the population, by leading in this way to a situation of great uncertainty.

By thanking the role that has been played by the Community of Sant'Egidio, specifically "for its long and constant commitment to the inhabitants of the Fezzan region", the delegates highlighted their willingness to collaborate for the common good and they want to encourage dialogue as a way to resolve all differences.

Sant'Egidio expresses its joy in this agreement that concerns the most important city in southern Libya. In fact, Fezzan is a key region for the pacification of the entire country. The Community has been committed for several years to the resolution of the Libyan crisis and it has especially played a leading role in the stabilization of the Fezzan region. Moreover, several important steps had already been taken in November 2015 by the Tuareg and Ubari tribes for the pacification of the city of Ubari, and, in June, by the parties of southern Libya. Specifically, the latter actors signed a humanitarian agreement at Sant’Egidio that led to a distribution of medicines and medical supplies in the seven main hospitals of the southern areas. The shipments, which concerned some health facilities in Ubari and Sebha, have already arrived at their destination thanks also to the involvement of the Italian collaboration.